National Museum of Korea Unveils 'Yeongsusa Gwaebul' with Devotion from 161 People for Buddha's Birthday

National Museum of Korea Opens Gwaebuljeon for One Day
9.2m Tall, Featuring 140 Characters
Created in 1653, Supported by 161 Patrons

To commemorate Buddha's Birthday, the largest existing hanging scroll and the one with the most characters depicted, the ‘Jincheon Yeongsusa Yeongsanhoe Hanging Scroll,’ has been made available to the public. Designated as a treasure, the ‘Yeongsusa Yeongsanhoe Hanging Scroll’ is one of the oldest hanging scrolls passed down from the 17th century.

The main Buddha Shakyamuni section of the 'Jincheon Yeongsusa Gwaebul'. [Photo courtesy of the National Museum of Korea]

The National Museum of Korea announced on the 2nd that it opened the exhibition ‘Gathering on Yeongsan (Sacred Mountain) - Jincheon Yeongsusa Hanging Scroll’ in the Buddhist Painting Room on the 1st, ahead of Buddha's Birthday, and will showcase it until October 13.

The hanging scroll is a Buddhist painting used in rituals such as the Cheondojae, which prays for the souls of the deceased to be born in Buddha’s Pure Land. It began to be actively produced after Buddhist ceremonies resumed following the Imjin War and the Byeongja Horan in the late 17th century.

The hanging scroll introduced in the National Museum of Korea’s Seohwa Pavilion Buddhist Painting Room exhibition ‘Gathering on Yeongsan - Jincheon Yeongsusa Hanging Scroll’ was created in 1653 and is one of the earlier works among the 117 existing hanging scrolls. Measuring 919 cm in height, 570.5 cm in width, and weighing 76 kg, it features 140 figures?the largest number among existing hanging scrolls. This is an element not found in the more standardized hanging scrolls of the 18th century and later.

The figures depicted are the audience attending the sermon of Shakyamuni Buddha held at the Yeongsan (Vulture Peak) in the ancient Indian capital Rajagriha. This Yeongsanhoe gathering is one of the most popular themes in Buddhist paintings, including hanging scrolls. Among the numerous figures, Shakyamuni Buddha seated on a high lotus pedestal at the center of the screen and Sariputra kneeling before him, earnestly seeking teachings, draw particular attention.

Sariputra, a disciple of the Buddha, is depicted as a monk, and it is noteworthy that this is the first instance of a monk figure, rather than a bodhisattva, appearing as a listener in Buddhist paintings. Surrounding Shakyamuni Buddha and Sariputra are various bodhisattvas, disciples, and the Four Heavenly Kings gathered to listen to the Buddha’s teachings.

Jincheon Yeongjusa Gwaebul Disciples Arhats
[Photo by National Museum of Korea]

At the bottom of the screen, figures bowing to the Buddha and celestial maidens playing musical instruments appear?elements not found in other hanging scrolls, where the audience is gradually omitted. The hanging scroll was completed with the devotion of 161 people. The bottom inscription lists the names of 12 creators and 149 patrons, as well as the materials used in its production.

The painters of the hanging scroll were Myeongok, Soeup, Hyeonuk, and Beopneung. Among them, Myeongok and Beopneung were highly skilled individuals who, besides producing Buddhist paintings, also worked as woodblock carvers for large-scale scripture publications and participated in royal funeral preparations.

Most of the patrons’ names are followed by ‘Yangju (兩主)’ or ‘Yangwi (兩位),’ indicating that couples participated together in the Buddhist project. They donated various items ranging from the fabric for the hanging scroll’s base, pigments, ritual objects, salt, pepper, condiments, to hemp cloth used as commodity money.

Yoon Seong-yong, director of the National Museum of Korea, stated, “The ‘Yeongsusa Hanging Scroll’ held at Jincheon Yeongsusa was completed through the devotion of 161 people in 1653,” and added, “This exhibition is a rare opportunity to fully appreciate the largest and most magnificent hanging scroll.”

The exhibition will be held until October 13.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.